Simulations

Simulations in biology can be very useful in explaining and demonstrating concepts. They can also make very successful IAs if the recommendations listed earlier in this book are followed. Netlogo is the recommend simulation for biology due to the quality of the simulations, the number of variables and the ability of the program to generate variation so that the same result is not given every time. This allows for multiple trials and standard deviation to be calculated. The list below is a curated list of the best, mostly free, simulations.

Image: Science in HD, Unsplash, 2019.

Simulation	IB Topics	IA Simulations	Learning
Netlogo	Enzymes, natural selection, evolution, immunology, infectious diseases, ecology, climate change	Yes, this is the gold standard for biology simulations. This playlist gives a few ideas.	Yes, there are a huge number of simulations that could be used.
Learn Genetics	Genetics, epigenetics, digestion, flowering plants, neurons and neurobiology	Possibly	great visualizations and animations
Phet Simulations	Neurons, gene expression, natural selection	No	Yes
Molecular Workbench	Various topics	Yes, there are a number of simulations that would work.	Yes, great simulations ranging from biochemistry to ecology.
Concord Consortium	Ecology, evolution, genetics, proteins	Possibly, there are a huge number of simulations that could be adapted.	Yes, there are a huge number of simulations that could be used.
HHMI BioInteractive	Genetics, immunity, neurons and neurobiology	Possibly, the lab simulations, while a bit tedious, could be adapted to an IA.	Yes, excellent set of resources to develop students analysis skills for data analysis questions and the IA.
Light Microscope Introduction	Cells	No	Yes, a great introduction to microscopes if you are working virtually.
Gelbox (Mac only)	Gel electrophoresis	Yes, allows students to manipulate a number of variables.	Yes, great for teaching the basics of genetics.
Biology Simulations	Genetics, evolution and heredity	Yes, some of the simulations could be used for IA work.	Yes, natural selection and heredity simulations can be used for learning.